Compare towns
Chester vs Olean vs Olean vs Brandon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chester has the most people working from home (14%).
Olean has the highest household income ($75k).
Olean has the most affordable homes ($86k median).
Brandon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.1%).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Chester | Olean | Olean | Brandon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,992 |
1,664Lowest |
13,738Highest |
4,120 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±4.7 28% above U.S. |
53.8±5.5Highest 38% above U.S. |
39±2.6Lowest about the U.S. average |
50.1±3.1 29% above U.S. |
| Olean and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Olean and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 29.8%±7.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.2%±5.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.3%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chester and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chester and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $62,125±$8k 23% below U.S. |
$74,583±$20kHighest 8% below U.S. |
$51,261±$7kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$64,180±$12k 21% below U.S. |
| Olean and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $232,900±$44kHighest 30% below U.S. |
$158,600±$17k 52% below U.S. |
$86,100±$6kLowest 74% below U.S. |
$227,800±$23k 32% below U.S. |
| Chester and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $960±$44 32% below U.S. |
$666±$334Lowest 53% below U.S. |
$794±$52 44% below U.S. |
$1,064±$225Highest 25% below U.S. |
| Brandon and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,262Highest 37% above U.S. |
$4,027 29% above U.S. |
$3,130Lowest about the U.S. average |
$4,241 36% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±25.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±15.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Olean and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
26.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1951 29 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
19 min 30% below U.S. |
14 minLowest 45% below U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
5.8%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.9%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Chester and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #49 of 70 in VT | #337 of 484 in NY | #337 of 484 in NY | #69 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | — | OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 |
| High school in town | Green Mountain Union High School | — | OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | Otter Valley Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.7Lowest |
— | 12.2Highest |
9.9 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.